Putin’s India Visit Highlights: PM Modi hosts dinner for Putin ahead of India–Russia summit

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India and Russia agreed to expand their defence cooperation.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov to discuss defence and strategic ties.

The talks were held a day before the 23rd India-Russia annual summit.

New Delhi expressed interest in acquiring additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow.

Discussions centered on enhancing overall defence and strategic collaboration between the two nations.

Traffic police announced on Thursday extensive restrictions and diversions in Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, Janpath Road, Pragati Maidan tunnel, ITO Chowk, among others.

“7-8 months ago I had said that the President will visit here and it is happening now. He is arriving here today. His arrival in India is very significant. He doesn't visit every country but India is so close to Russia that he thought it important to visit here. Russia has offered to elevate cooperation with China and India to a qualitatively new level. For the past 70-80 years, India and Russia have never had a conflict or war. They never had any area disputes...The relations have to be continued, and it is further deepening,” Indian-origin Russian MLA Abhay Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday issued a detailed traffic advisory for 5 December Friday, in view of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit.

Major restrictions and diversions across central Delhi have been announced due to administrative exigencies.

Commuters have been urged to avoid several key routes between 9:00 AM and 12:00 noon.

Full Details:

RESTRICTIONS AND NO PARKING ZONES:

Different stretches including Mother Teresa Crescent, Teen Murti Marg, Akbar Road, MLNP, Janpath Road, Firoz Shah Road, Sikandra Road, Windsor Place, Mandi House, Mathura Road & Bhairon Marg will remain restricted during:

•10:00–11:30 AM

•11:00 AM–12:30 PM

•03:00–05:00 PM

•05:00–09:00 PM

ROUTES TO AVOID:

Mother Teresa Crescent • Teen Murti Marg • Akbar Road • MLNP • Janpath Road • Firoz Shah Road • Sikandra Road • W-Point • Mathura Road • Bhairon Road

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES:

Vande Matram Marg • Yashwant Place • Maulana Azad Road • K. Kamraj Marg • Raisina Road • Rafi Marg • DDU Marg • Asaf Ali Road.

PUBLIC ADVISORY:

Use public transport, follow traffic police directions and plan travel to ISBT/Railway Stations/Airports in advance

Asked about US President Donald Trump's tariffs, which have affected India, Putin told India Today: “He pursues his own policy, and he has advisors -- his decisions aren't made out of thin air. He has advisors who believe that implementing such tariff policies, involving the imposition of additional duties on trade partners, ultimately benefits the US economy. He is acting in good faith, I presume.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin told India Today that if the United States has the right to buy Russian fuel, "why shouldn't India have the same privilege".

Putin's comments were part of an interview that was due to be aired hours after he landed in New Delhi for summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reuters, which had a transcript of the interview, reported Putin's thoughts.

“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people,” PM Modi posted on X, welcoming the Russian President to India.

Putin India Visit LIVE Updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed at the Delhi Airport with his delegation for the India visit on Thursday, 4 December 2025.

Putin India Visit LIVE Updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India with a large group of businesspeople is an effort to explore multiple avenues to increase India's exports to Russia, reported the news agency ANI.

India's pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and agricultural products, including marine product exports, will be worked out during the visit, according to the agency report citing government sources.

According to the agency report, Indian businesses and products will get a bigger market as this move aims to boost job creation and the well-being of Indian farmers.

Multiple agreements and MoUs are expected in the field of Shipping, healthcare, fertilisers, connectivity, as per the report, while more co-operation is also to be seen in the people-to-people relations, mobility partnerships, culture and scientific collaboration.

In 2019, Russian President Putin awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi Russia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First, for strengthening the special friendship between India and Russia.

Flex boards welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian national flags have been put up across Delhi's Teen Murti Marg.

According to a statement by the MEA, Putin's state visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the "Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership" and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that Putin's visit to India this week aims to secure energy supplies, stabilise defence deliveries.

GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava has said that it is a high-stakes working visit shaped by necessity to lock in energy security, stabilise defence supply lines and keep bilateral trade functioning under the weight of Western sanctions.

The Indian and Russian sides expected to discuss India's proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, ANI reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had last visited Delhi in 2021.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will bring his favourite car Aurus Senat Limosuine with him for India's visit, HT reported.

Speaking with PTI, Shashi Tharoor said, “I think this is an important visit. I think for our country, there is no doubt that there are significant bilateral relationships to be maintained with Russia, with China, with America. And we cannot accept a proposition that says that any one relationship has to be determined by the nature of another relationship."

He added, “We should have the sovereign autonomy to actually decide the terms of our own engagement with each country.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be accompanied by a Russian delegation, including Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and other ministers, as per ANI report. Representatives of the Federal Customs Service, Russia's financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Director Dmitry Shugayev, and the CEOs of Roscosmos, Rosatom, and VEB.RF will be included in the delegation.

Russian spokesperson Dimitry Peskov earlier said that the sale of additional S-400 long-range anti-aircraft missiles could be on the agenda during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit.

"Highly on the agenda, and this could be discussed. Our military industry is working pretty well. Russian arms 36% in Indian armed forces and hopefully will continue," ANI quoted Dimitry Peskov as saying.

The Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter is also on agenda. He added, “SU-57 is the best plane in the world. SU57 will be on the agenda.”

The Russian delegation will hold comprehensive discussions on cooperation in areas such as trade and economic, scientific and technological, and cultural and humanitarian spheres, according to the Russian media outlet TASS. During this 2-day state visit, 10 intergovernmental documents and more than 15 agreements and memorandums between commercial and non-commercial entities of the two countries will be signed off. Current international and regional issues are also on the agenda.

According to Russian News agency TASS, Russian President Vladimir Putin departed from Russia.

In Amritsar, an artist named Jagjot Singh painter created Vladimir Putin's portrait painting ahead of Russian President's visit.

National flags of India and Russia have been put up on light poles of Kartavya Path ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.

Hoardings and flex boards with images of Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been put up across Delhi to welcome the Russian President.

People in Varanasi marked Thursday morning with celebrations ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit. They held welcome march and were seen performing aarti, HT reported.

Russian House in Delhi organised a photo exhibition ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2-day state visit.

President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 5 December, hours before his scheduled departure.

• 4 December 2025 - Arrival at 6:35 PM
• 5 December 2025

1. Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11:00 AM
2. Wreath Laying at Rajghat at 11:30 AM
3. Meeting with Prime Minister at Hyderabad House at 11:50 AM
4. Press statements at Hyderabad House at 1:50 PM.
5. Meeting with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7:00 PM
6. Departure at 9:00 PM

Ministry of external affairs in a press release dated 28 November said that Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted PM Modi's invitation for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

“The forthcoming State Visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review progress in bilateral relations, set the vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the press release noted.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said potential discussions may cover the acquisition of an additional S-400 missile system and talks regarding the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, according to ANI.

He described the Su-57 as "the best plane in the world" and indicated Russia’s readiness to deepen defence technology collaboration, including joint initiatives such as BrahMos.

Peskov also highlighted Russia’s intent to strengthen cooperation in the civil nuclear sector, stating that Moscow is willing to provide India with compact reactor technology while continuing work on ongoing projects like Kudankulam.

Flex boards welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with Russian national flags, were displayed along Teen Murti Marg in Delhi on Thursday. The national capital has been placed on high alert, with a multi-layered security setup in place ahead of Putin’s evening arrival for his two-day visit to India, according to PTI.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin his state visit with a visit to Rajghat. After a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he will visit Hyderabad House for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Putin will participate in the India-Russia Business Forum after lunch with PM Modi on Friday.

The leaders will hold talks at Hyderabad House for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Friday. He will officially mark the beginning of his state visit with a visit to Rajghat after a Thursday night dinner at PM Modi's residence. He will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.